Push-on type handle



Jan. '6, 1942. D. G. KIMBALL PUSH-0N TYPE HANDLE Filed Aug. 21, 1940 mball,

47/497474/ n t ma 6.

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 2,269,208 PUSH-0N TYPE HANDLE Donald G. Kimball, Stratford, Gonn., assignor to Y General Electric Company,'.a' corporation of New York Application August 21, 1940, Serial No. 353,438

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to handles, such as are commonly used on the control shafts of electric ranges, radio apparatus, or the like, in which the handles are provided with means such that they may be simply pushed on to the control shaft of such electrical apparatus and readily heldin position. The construction is such that the handle may be placed on the shaft and withdrawn therefrom without the use of tools.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved handle of the push-on type, which may be manufactured economically, which may be assembled quickly and easily upon a shaft, and which is so constructed that it is seated thereon without wobble or lateral side play.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a handle of simplified construction which may be retained upon the shaft without the need of special latching mechanism to secure it in position.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 is a view of a handle constructed in accordance with my invention; by way of example, the handle is illustrated as mounted on control switches of an electric range; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the handle mounted in position on the switch shaft; Fig. 3 is likewise a cross-sectional view of the handle prior to mounting on the switch shaft; Fig. 4 is a view of the interior of the handle, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view alon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In many existing handle constructions, such as are customarily employed with electric switches, or the like, a separate latching or holding means is usually employed to maintain the handle on the switch shaft. For example, in some constructions separate spring means have been mounted on the handles and biased into frictional engagement with the shaft, whereas,

in other constructions, the switch shaft has been provided with specially formed notches, or the like, such that the handle may be latched in position, once it is pushed on the shaft. These constructions are expensive since they require additional parts and special milling operations for the switch shafts. It is one of the purposes of my invention to obviate the necessity for separate securing mechanisms of the type described. I propose to construct the switch handle in a manner such that it may be frictionally retained on a shaft of plain straight stock without the use of such mechanisms. To this end, I construct the switch handle of material having a resiliency such that it will frictionally engage the switch shaft; the handle is formed simply with a recess having wall portions of special configuration such that they closely and frictionally engage'the sides of the associated shaft. Turning to the drawing, I have shown a handle 10 mounted on the shaft ll of an'electric switch forming part of an electric range l2. The handle proper 'is provided with a base or skirt portion l3 together with a web portion 14. The web portion 14, which generally receives the switch shaft, is provided with a recess l5. Opposite walls of the recess are formed with projecting portions l6 having faces which frictionally engage the sides of the generally rectangular switch shaft .l l, as best shown by Fig. 5. For the purpose of orienting the position of the handle on the switch, the shaft II is provided with a longitudinal bead I! which co-operates with a corresponding groove l8 formed in one of the projections H5. The faces of the projections 16 are spaced apart a distance such that they closely and frictionally engage the sides of the switch shaft as the latter is inserted into the recess. At the same time, the frictional fit is such as to permit a smooth and free sliding action of the handle on the shaft. Upstanding from the bottom of the recess l5 are a plurality of webs iii. The webs are spaced from the side walls of the recess l5, as shown in Fig. 5, and, in addition, are spaced apart from each other a distance corresponding to the thickness of the shaft. The webs likewise engage opposite sides of the shaft in the same manner as the faces of the projections I6. Each of the web portions I9 is molded integrally with the body of the handle and is tapered outwardly along an outer bevelled edge 20 from the bottom of the recess [5 to a point adjacent the base or skirt portion I3. The tapered formation of the web provides a relatively wide base portion adjacent the bottom of the recess [5 and a relatively narrow end portion adjacent the base portion l3. This means that the cross-section of the web constantly decreases as it extends outwardly from the base of the recess l5 so that an inherent resiliency or flexibility is imparted to each of the webs IS.

The webs I9 and the projections [6 together form a well 2| for receiving and gripping the switch shaft. The inner walls 22 of the webs l9 forming a portion of the well 2|, are tapered outwardly, as shown by Fig. 3, so that the bottom of the well 2| has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the top or entrance portion of the well. In other words, the cross-sectional opening of the well at its entrance is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the shaft. This means that as the switch shaft is forced into the well the webs I9 are sprung or flexed outwardly to make room for the entering shaft. In this manner they tightly and frictionally engage the sides of the switch shaft.

The entire handle as well as the webs l9 are preferably molded integrally of a plastic material, for example, a resinous phenolic condensation product, and the handle may be formed quickly and easily in a single molding operation. It has been found that a resinous phenolic condensation product is admirably suited for the structure described in that the webs I9 have a resiliency sufficient to grip the switch shaft firmly to maintain the handle in position at all times. At the same time they permit easy mounting of the handle simply by sliding it on the shaft. The resiliency of the resinous material is such that the tapered walls 22 of the webs may be formed during the molding operation.

My construction is extremely simple and is one with which it is unnecessary to employ separate holding or latching means for retaining the switch in position on the switch shaft; no separate spring or other form of retaining means is required. This efiects a considerable saving in cost. While for the purpose of illustration, my

invention has been shown as utilizing a shaft of generally rectangular configuration, it should be manifest that it may be employed equally as well with shafts of other configurations by making corresponding changes in the shaft engaging faces of the projections I6 and web l9.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A handle comprising a unitary body structure provided with a recess therein, opposite Walls of said recess being formed with bearing surfaces, oppositely disposed resilient webs upstanding from the bottom of said recess and being spaced from the said opposite walls thereof, said webs having tapered surfaces cooperating with said bearing surfaces to form a well for receiving a shaft, the tapered surfaces on said webs extending outwardly toward the bottom of said recess so that the cross sectional area of said well constantly increases from a point adjacent the ends of the webs to a point adjacent the bottom of said recess, the webs being biased outwardly as the shaft is inserted in said well whereby said webs frictionally and resiliently grip said shaft along the length of said tapered surfaces to hold the handle in position.

DONALD G. KIMBAIL. 

